Hi all 
,
New Trx !
73, Éric F5JKK
8 Likes
Watch the YouTube video by K4SWL last night, it looks an awesome little rig. Perfect to leave in the car for quick, unplanned activations.
I think the Pebble will be popular. Now we just need Neil @G7UFO to organise a European assembly operation! I could easily assemble a PCB by hand, with a board order from JLC, but I don’t have experience with 3D printing.
The project is open source, with the BOM and gerbers online, but I do think something should be kicked back to the project originators too.
What a great idea for a radio!
73, Colin
6 Likes
Yeah, it does look smart. Have been chatting to Mike, N4FFF about the mic wiring and element for the Pebble HF.
My understanding is that they’re wanting to get a few out of the door and the design nailed down before looking to expand where it’s available.
2 Likes
Saw the videos last night. I’m going to order one when they become available. I have a K6ARK 49:1 unun that is not being used (prefer the 9:1 version with my KX2). This radio, the 49:1 EFHW antenna, and a spare battery from my KX2 will make for a tidy little radio for lightweight activations.
Chris
If you are interested in this project, visit groups.io here 
https://groups.io/g/BluQRP/topic/118455508#msg353
73, Éric F5JKK
I decided to ask Google AI for help.
My Question: Do you think that the creators of the HF pebble should credit Hans Summers for his work on the QCX mini?
Google AI’s Answer:
Whether the creators of the HF Pebble (and the broader uSDX community) owe a formal “IP credit” to Hans Summers (G0UPL) is a nuanced debate within the ham radio community.
From a technical and ethical standpoint, here is how the credit typically breaks down:
1. The Argument for Direct Credit
The Class-E PA and the 74ACT00 bus-switch receiver implementation in the Pebble are virtually identical to the circuit blocks Hans popularized in the QCX.
The “QCX-SSB” Link: The uSDX firmware (which the Pebble runs) was originally written specifically for the QCX hardware.
Engineering Effort: Hans spent years optimizing the specific component values (like the BS170 bias and the feedback loops) to make a $50 radio perform like a $500 one. Using those exact values in a new PCB design is, at the very least, an inherited engineering feat.
2. The Argument for “Common Domain” Building Blocks
From a strict “Intellectual Property” perspective, Hans did not invent the Tayloe Mixer (Dan Tayloe, N7VE, did) or the Class-E Amplifier (the Sokals did in the 70s).
Open Architecture: The Si5351A + ATmega328 + Tayloe Mixer is now considered a “standard architecture” for budget SDRs.
Independent PCB: Because the Pebble is a ground-up PCB layout designed for a different purpose (SDR/SSB vs. Hans’s CW-only focus), many builders view it as an independent project that happens to use the same “industry standard” parts for the QRP price point.
3. The Ethical “Middle Ground”
Most seasoned builders feel that a “Derived From” or “Inspired By” credit is the right thing to do.
The uSDX Precedent: The main uSDX developers generally acknowledge that their software journey began on the QCX.
Community Friction: There has been historical friction because “clones” (unauthorized 1:1 copies of the QCX) hurt QRP Labs’ ability to fund future R&D. While the Pebble is a unique design, failing to mention the QCX hardware lineage can feel like “omission” to those who know the history.
Summary
If you are looking at this from a professional ethics lens: Yes, a mention of Hans Summers’ work on the QCX/QCX-mini PA and receiver architecture would be appropriate, as his specific implementation is the “DNA” that made the Pebble’s performance possible at that price.
1 Like